The weather was even better than the previous week and the course had no boggy sections and the greens are getting towards their summer standard.
M was first as the defending champion and got to the green, I went right with a bit of a duff under pressure and the other golfer M2 went in the bunker. M got stuck in straight away with a longish putt to start with a birdy. I struggled to chip and got down in 5.
On the 2nd I went down the fairway to the green in 3 while M went right, this was a drawn hole. M2 hit a very long straight drive and was on the green in 2. (Turns out he has a handicap of 6).
With the extra observer I was nervous across the lake but managed to scrape across and got down in 3 and getting even. As the game went on we relaxed a bit and started to play our usual game feeling less pressure. On hole 5 we saw how easy it is to get a par if only you can hit a long straight drive. By the end of the front 9, I was 2 holes up and I get a shot on the 10th which I won anyway. After 11, I was 4 up. We shared the wins and draws on the remaining holes with result that the Geller comes back South.
As well as getting a first hand view of a good golfer playing off white tees we had a few tips which may help if future games. In particular confidence to hit down behind the ball in a bunker and also to make sure the ball in in the centre of your stance.
M played well from the tee using his trusty 3W and on the 17th hit a long drive that just stayed out of the pond and managed a par... not sure if this has been done before? He had an interesting escape from a lost ball on the dogleg 7th where that ball suck in the fence (see photo). My score is click here.
I got to the green with a chance of a proper golf score on 6 holes but only converted 3 of these. My putting owed me 3 including 7, 3 putts not sure how much was bad putting and how much was bad chipping. I managed 4 proper scores but only 1 par (the par 3, 3rd). I messed up 2 holes. Hole 7 was a pity as I was set up to get to the green in 3 and instead I went for a couple of shots in the bunker and then added a 3 putt. On the 16th I hit a poor tee shot using 4i instead of 5i and then adding the only duff of the day perhaps because I was thinking about keeping the ball in the middle of my stance. So with 3 less putts, one less bunker and no lost balls on 16 and 17, I could have been 6 better. I also messed up the tee shot on the 15th resulting in a penalty that should have been avoidable.
Still playing with 3 makes a change and it was fun to win for a change!
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| M looking for a nice up and down |
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| Moody skies at the 14th |
